On 27 April 2026, Her Excellency Mrs. Piyapin Niyomrerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, co-presided over the opening ceremony of the Muaythai Youth Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was organized by the Muaythai Federation of Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, with and aim of selecting Kazakh youth athletes to represent the country at the IFMA World School Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the IFMA Youth World Championship in Pristina, Kosovo. The ceremony was attended by more than 500 people who are representatives from the government sector, executives of Muaythai Federation of Kazakhstan, the athletes, and a large number of spectators.

On this occasion, the Ambassador commended the Muaythai Federation of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and all relevant Kazakh agencies for their continued efforts in promoting Muaythai, the national sport of Thailand, in Kazakhstan. She emphasized that Muaythai is not merely a martial art, but also a representation of Thai identity, culture, and national pride. She further recognized athletes, coaches, and all stakeholders as “Ambassadors of Thailand,” who play an important role in promoting Thailand’s Soft Power through Muay Thai and in strengthening the relations between Thailand and Kazakhstan through sports. She also conveyed her best wishes for the success of the competition.

Muaythai has been promoted in Kazakhstan since 1998 and has gained significant popularity nationwide. A large number of Kazakh youths are actively engaged in Muaythai training across more than 60 training centers covering all 16 regions of the country. The growth of Muaythai in Kazakhstan represents a clear example of using sports as a mechanism to connect cultures and strengthen international relations. In this regard, Muaythai has become an important component of Thailand’s Soft Power, contributing to greater mutual understanding and closer people-to-people ties between Thailand and Kazakhstan in a continuous and sustainable manner.